Posted at 29 Jul 2015

Interview with Harris Blondman

Harry Bloch and Joris Landman tell us about their working relationship after meeting at a party in 2007, and having fun with stretchy type.

How did the two of you meet?

We met through a shared friend, at a Mediamatic party in the now-demolished Post CS building, in 2007. But we only started to work together six years later.

What made you decide you’d be a great team?

We’re very different, and can both be quite headstrong. Because of this, our process isn’t necessarily frictionless. No decision goes unnoticed, and that makes them strong. Working together, we noticed that outcomes ended up being more considered and advanced. So, we started the studio together.

What kind of objects surround you in your studio?

We recently moved into a new space, which we keep rather empty. There’s standing desks, big windows and a freestanding block of black cupboards, which looks like a supercomputer.

Is there anything you see happening in the near future of web design that particularly excites you?

The focus is shifting from desktop to handheld, which is more linear and single-feature. In terms of design, this means a shift from quantity to quality; a greater attention to visual detailing, structural clarity, engaging features and editorial decisions.

What are you working on or experimenting with at the moment?

We’re currently working on visual identities and websites for a photographer from Geneva, a fashion collective from Amsterdam, and an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation. Meanwhile, we’re having fun with SVG and stretching things.

Photo credit: Jaap Scheeren

We’re very different, and can both be quite headstrong. Because of this, our process isn’t necessarily frictionless. No decision goes unnoticed, and that makes them strong